Episcopal bishops approve same-sex liturgy

The bishops of the Episcopal Church on Monday approved creation of a liturgy for “holy covenants” between partners of the same sex, which does not mention “marriage” but does include a lifelong commitment by partners.

The vote by the House of Bishops, at the church’s 77th General Convention, was 111-41. Episcopal Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, voted in favor of the new liturgy.

Three years in the making, the new liturgy has a couple make vows to each other, exchange rings and be declared “bound to one another in a holy covenant, as long as they bothy shall live.”

The liturgy now goes to the House of Deputies, consisting of priests and lay people, for what is near-certain approval. It would then go into provisional use starting in the first week of Advent, meaning December 2, 2012.

Washington will be voting Nov. 6 on Referendum 74, which would make us the seventh state (plus the District of Columbia) to approve marriage equality. Maryland and Maine will be voting on same-sex marriage the same day.

The Episcopal Church, with 2.4 million members, becomes the largest denomination to approve rites for gay unions.

“It was the Jesus thing to do in our time,” the Rt. Rev Michael Louis Vono of the Diocese of Rio Grande said prior to the vote.

The bishops took testimony and heard from a Duke sophomore named Jonathan York, who urged approval as a message to gays and lesbians that “they do in fact have a place in God’s home.”

“So many gay people feel like they’re being forced to make a choice: They can have their place in their church or they can have their identity,” said York, according to an Episcopal News Service report.

Several churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, notably St. Mark’s Cathedral, area already performing services for same-sex couples.

Episcopal Bishop Greg Rickel is a supporter of the liturgy, and has spoken out in favor of marriage equality and called it a “conservative” measure.